Valve for direct pressure shallow well pumping system



C. M. BLISS Nov. 10, 1959 VALVE FOR DIRECT PRESSURE SHALLOW WELLPUMPING-SYSTEM Filed Oct. 1. 1953 Ill/Ill FIG. 2.

FIG. 4.

IFII,

IN VEN TOR. CARL M. BLISS $4M VAaA/ Attorneys United States Patent VALVEFOR DIRECT PRESSURE SHALLOW WELL PUMPING SYSTEM Carl M. Bliss, Delavan,Wis., assignor to Sta-Rite Products, Inc., Delavan, Wis., a corporationof Wisconsin Application October '1, 1953, Serial No. 383,671

8 Claims. (Cl. 103-25) This invention relates to an automatic pumpingsystem, and more particularly to a valve for a water pumping apparatusin which water is delivered directly from the pump to a faucet or otheroutlet.

A direct pressure pumping system may employ a pump of the shallow welljet type, a pneumatic tank, and various automatic controls. The tank maybe considerably smaller than those used in conventional pumping systemswhere the water is discharged from the tank as the water is delivereddirectly from the pump to the discharge outlet when the pump isoperating rather than from the pressure tank to the outlet. Since lessspace is required with a small tank the entire system may often beplaced under a sink, or in some other small space. This is particularlyadvantageous in small homes such as lake cottages. The initial cost ofsuch a compact system is substantially lower than that of theconventional system.

Heretofore, in the utilization of a direct pressure system that could belocated in a small space several factors have reduced the efliciency ofsuch a system and raised the cost of maintenance to a point wherewidespread use of the system was not economically feasible. The use of asmaller tank in the direct pressure system means that the pump will haveto operate more often than in conventional systems, for there is nolarge supply of stored water from which water can be initially deliveredbefore the pressure decreases substantially. In addition, it has beenfound that water tends to fill the tank completely, leaving no airreservoir or cushion at the top and preventing the air volume controlfrom acting. When this happens, the pressure rises instantly, therebyshutting off the pump. When the pump stops the pressure immediatelyfalls and the pump restarts. Sometimes the pump will start and stop morethan six times per minute, which results in extreme wear on the pressureswitch and motor, thereby necessitating frequent and costly repairs.

This invention is directed toward incorporating the advantages of thedirect pressure system, while substantially eliminating thedisadvantages outlined above.

7 In carrying out the invention, a novel valve arrangement has beenincorporated between the pump and the tank, which is designed to preventthe pump from starting more than three times per minute and which allowsthe air volume control to function properly. Maintenance and replacementcosts are thereby greatly reduced.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates the best mode of carrying outthe invention as presently contemplated and set forth (hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the automatic pumping system withparts in section;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the system from the right side of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the-valve shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the valve assembly shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is asectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

ice

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the valve corresponding to the view of Fig.4 but illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the air volume control valve assembledwith the tank and pump with the control valve enlarged.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a pumping apparatuscomprising a base 1 on which is supported a motor 2 that drivinglyactuates a centrifugal pump 3 within the pump chamber 4 of the pumphousing 5 through shaft 6.

Centrifugal pump 3 is connected to jet pump 7 within chamber 4 by aventuri tube 8. Water from a well, not shown, is drawn into tube 8through inlet pipe 9 and a passage 10 around jet pump 7 by the action ofthe centrifugal and jet pumps. The water is discharged from thecentrifugal pump into chamber 4. A portion ofthe water discharged frompump 3 is delivered through a discharge passage or outlet 11 at the topof the chamber to the household outlets or the like, not shown, anotherportion circulates through the chamber and flows through jet pump 7 andback into venturi tube 8 to operate the jet pump, while a furtherportion flows through a second outlet and the short passageway and valve12 at the top of housing 5 and into the pneumatic tank 13 located abovehousing 5 and secured thereto by valve 12. Y

'The construction and operation of the valve and the component parts ofthe valve forms the primary basis of the invention herein. The valve 12is suitably secured to tank 13 and is threaded at its lower end into anannular flange provided on the top of pump housing 5. The upper end ofvalve 12 is recessed to provide an annular shoulder 14 which receivesthe complementary flanged ends of a narrow, curved metallic strip 15 tosupport the strip therefrom. 1

Strip 15 is preferably made of brass, but any other suitable materialmay be used and the strip may take any desired shape so long as it doesnot hinder the flow of water through valve 12. v

A valve ball 16 is normally disposed on the seat provided by curvedstrip 15 and is actuated to an up and down position by the water flowthrough valve 12 to open and close the valve, as hereinafter described.As can be observed in Fig. 5, the strip 15 has suflicient width to stopthe descent of ball 16, but permits flow of water through the valve whenthe ball is resting on the strip. The valve ball is made of plastic,glass or resin or other suitable material which is light enough to becarried upwardly by a stream of water passing through'the valve butheavy enough to fall back to its initial position once the upward flowof water through the valve is stopped.

A small circular plate 17 extends across the upper end of the valve 12and is secured to valve 12 on top of the flanged ends of strip 15 toprovide a seat in the upper end of valve 12 for ball 16. A circularopening 18 is provided in the center of plate 17, the diameter of whichis about two-thirds the diameter of ball 16.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 a leakage slot-19" Under operation ofthe system as will be described hereinafter when ball 16 is resting inopening 18 under.

the force of the upward flow of water to tank 13 through valve 12 only aslight amount of water passes to tank 13:

from pump chamber 4 through either slot 19 0r holes 20 whichever areemployed. However, when ball 16 is rest ing on strip 15 then water canpass freely through opening 3 18 and through the valve 12 from tank 13to pump chamber 4.

In order to electrically operate the motor and pump a pressure switch 21is secured to pump housing and operates to turnmotor 2 on and off,depending upon the pressure in tank 13 exerted on switch 21 through tube22, which is connected to switch 21 at one end and fluidly connectedthrough fiitting 23 to tank 13 at the other end. Pressure switch 21 canbe set to operate motor 2 at any desired range of pressures, the usualrange being from 30 to 50 pounds. Thus a 30 pound pressure will closethe switch to start the motor and 50 pounds pressure will open theswitch to cut off the motor.

It is necessary that an air reservoir be maintained in tank 18 otherwisethe tank would completely fill with water and the pressure therein wouldinstantly rise in the tank when the pump started due to theincompressibility of the water to operate pressure switch 21 and shutoff the pump as soon as it started and would immediately fall when thepump stops and again immediately start the pump. This is prevented by anair volume control 24 for supplying air to tank 13 whenever needed.

Control 24 is fluidly connected to the suction side of pump chamber 4through pipe 25 and also to tank 13 through connection 26. The control24 is preferably similar to that described in United States LettersPatent 2,183,421 issued on December 12, 1939 to F. E. Brady, althoughany other suitable control may be used.

The structure and operation of the control 24 is illustrateddiagrammatically in Fig. 7 wherein the control is shown connected at oneside directly to the tank 13 through tube 26 and then to the pump bypipe 25 and to the lower portion of tank 13 through valve 12. Thecontrol comprises a diaphragm 27 suitably secured to the center of thehousing of control 24. A spring 28 normally holds the diaphragm in theposition shown in Fig. 7 which is in the left side of the control.However, when the pump starts suction is created on the right side ofthe diaphragm through pipe 25 suflicient to overcome spring 28 and drawsthe diaphragm to the right as illustrated by the dotted lines. A checkvalve 29 is secured to the lower end of control 24. Valve 29 is closedwhen the diaphragm 27 is to the left, the position shown in. Fig. 7.However, when the diaphragm is moved to the right or dotted positioncheck valve 29 opens to permit air to enter the control 24 if the waterlevel in the tank is above tube 26 when the pump starts. This is due tothe fact that the air will overcome the check valve before any quantityof water will flow into the valve from tank 13 as flow of water to thevalve is restricted by restrictions 30 inside tube 26. However, if thewater in tank 13 is not above tube 26 only air from the tank 13 is drawninto the control as the check valve 29 remains closed. In both of thediscribed situations when the pump stops the diaphragm is moved to theleft by spring 28 and forces the air from the control back into the tankthrough tube 26.

The size of the leakage slot 19 determines the length of time requiredto raise the pressure in tank 13 sufficiently to actuate switch 21 andcut ofi motor 2 at whatever pressure the switch may be set. The lengthof time determined by the size of slot 19 to raise the pressure in thetank to cut off switch 21 is sufficient to permit air volume control 24to operate as described above to supply air to the tank. In theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 the holes 20 can be varied in size orin number to obtain the restricted flow of fluid to the tank 13 when thepump is operating that predetermines the length of time required toraise the pressure in tank 13 to actuate switch 21 and cut olf motor 2.

Referring now to the operation of the pumping apparatus described assumethat pump 3 has filled tank 13 to its full rated pressure and that motor2 has been shut ofi, the following sequence of operations will thenensue:

As water is drawn from the system through discharge opening 11 the wateris initially drawn from tank 13 at which time ball valve 16 is restingon strip 15 and water can flow from the tank to chamber 4 throughopening 18. After a short period of time the pressure within tank 13drops to a predetermined pressure which actuates switch 21 to close anelectrical contact and start motor 2. Shaft 6 is rotatably driven bymotor 2 and in turn drives pump 3, which then draws water from the wellthrough pipe 9, passage 10 and venturi tube 8. Pump 3 then deliverswater into chamber 4. Water is thereupon discharged through outlet 11,and circulates through chamber 4 and through jet pump 7. Also waterflows into tank 13 through valve 12.

As water is pumped through valve 12 valve ball 16 is carried upwardly bythe force of the water until it seats itself in opening 18 of valve seat17. The flow of water to tank 13 is thereby shutoff. except for a smallregulated stream which passes through leakage slot 19 in valve seat 17.-The slot restricts water flow into tank 13 so that the pressure willnot build up in the tank so as to actuate presure switch 21 and shut offmotor 2 until a predetermined length of time has elapsed such as atleast 12 seconds, delay from the time pump 3 starts. Control 24 in themeantime has been placed into operation and is given sufficient timeduring the pumping cycle to move to a position to supply air to tank 13through valve 29. When no more water is being taken from the system,pump 3 will continue to pump water through valve 12 into tank 13 untilthe pressure in the tank is high enough to actuate pressure switch 21,to shut off motor 2 and stop pump 3.

Subsequently, since the flow of water upwardly through valve housing 12has been halted, valve ball 16 drops away from valve seat 17 and againcomes to rest on strip 15. Thus, when water is again drawn from thesystem, it will initially be delivered from tank 13 downwardly throughopening 18 and valve 12, pump chamber 4 and from there through outlet 11to a faucet or other discharge unit. Once the pressure in tank 13 lowersto a predetermined point, pressure switch 21 is again actuated to startmotor 2, and the cycle as described above is repeated.

Although the value of the invention has been described with reference tothe strip 15 and ball 16 other ball and cage arrangements can beemployed or other valves with means for restricting passage of liquid inone direction may be employed.

The valve of the invention permits employment of a compact directpressure pumping unit with a small tank and wherein frequent starts andstops are eliminated.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as Withinthe scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. In an automatic pumping system of the direct pressure shallow welltype, a pneumatic storage chamber, pumping means, means to actuate saidpumping means, a pressure control connected to said storage chamber andto the actuating means and operated by pressure in the chamber to startand stop the actuating means, an inlet connected to the pumping meansfor flow of liquid to the pumping means from a well or the like, anoutlet connected to the pumping'means for discharge of pumped liquidfrom the system direct from the pumping means when the latter is inoperation, a second outlet for connecting the pumping means to thestorage chamber for flow of liquid from the pumping means to the storagechamber upon actuation of the pumping means and wherein the liquid isstored under pressure; a valve disposed between the second outlet andthe storage chamber with said valve comprising, means responsive toliquid flow through said second outlet toward said storage chamber forrestricting the flow of liquid into said storage chamber when thepumping means is in operation, said lastnamed means being inoperativewhen the pumping means is inoperative to provide substantiallyunrestricted flow of liquid from the storage chamber as liquid is drawnfrom the system; and an air volume control connected to the storagechamber to control the volume of air within the storage chamber withsaid control having means to supply air to the tank when the pump ceasesoperation to provide an air reservoir in the top of the tank and therebymaintain a liquid level in the tank preventing rapid repeated operationof the pump.

2. In an automatic pumping system of the type wherein the pump inoperation discharges liquid directly from the system without passage ofthe fluid through the storage tank of the system and having an air inletcontrol with a connection secured to said tank with means for passage ofair to the control when the pump is operating and then to the tank whenthe pump ceases operation, and a pressure switch actuated by thepressure in said tank to start and stop the pump, the combination of avalve disposed between the pump and tank, said valve comprising avertical cylindrical casing enclosing a valve chamber and having anannular shoulder at its upper end, a curved support strip disposedwithin said casing and extending downwardly within said chamber andhaving flanged ends which rest on said annular shoulder, a valve balldisposed on the lower inner portion of said support strip and free tomove vertically from said strip, a circular valve seat supported by saidannular shoulder a substantial distance above said valve ball with acentral opening therein, the said ball closing said opening when thepump is operating and liquid is being pumped to the tank through thevalve chamber, and apertures means in said valve sat providing forleakage of fluid through the valve when the opening therein is closed bythe valve ball to provide for entry of air to the tank from the airinlet valve and thereby prevent rapid build up of pressure in the tankby the flow of water thereto.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means allowing leakage throughthe valve comprises a slot extending for a slight distance from saidopening.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means allowing leakage throughthe valve comprises a series of relatively small circumferentiallyspaced holes disposed approximately at the midpoint of the radius ofsaid seat.

5. In combination with a direct pressure water supply system having apump disposed within a housing, a discharge passage adjacent said pump,an actuating means connected to drive said pump, a pressure tank mountedon said housing, a pressure control means responsive to pressure withinsaid tank for starting and stopping the pump actuating means, an airinlet valve having a connection secured to said tank for the passage ofair to the tank immediately after operation of the pump ceases, apassageway disposed between the pump and tank; and a check valvedisposed in said passageway with said valve comprising, means responsiveto flow of water through said passageway toward the tank to restrict theflow of water from the pump to the tank to provide a time delaypermitting adequate receipt of air from the air inlet valve to preventrapid actuation of the pressure control means by build up of waterpressure in the tank said second-last named means being inoperative whenthe pump is not operative to permit generally free flow of water fromthe tank when the discharge passage is open.

6. In a direct pressure water supply system in combination with apressure tank, a housing connected to said tank and having an inlet anda discharge passage separate from said tank, means including a pumpwithin said housing for supplying water from said inlet to said tank andto discharge passage, an air inlet valve having a connection secured tosaid tank for the passage of air immediately after operation of the pumpceases; and a control valve disposed between the tank and pump, saidcontrol valve comprising, means responsive to the flow of water towardsaid tank for restricting the flow of water to the tank to provide atime delay permitting adequate receipt of air from the air inlet valveto prevent the rapid build up of water pressure in the tank, saidcontrol valve being inoperative when the pump is not operating toprovide free flow of water from the tank when the discharge passage isopen.

7. In combination in an automatic pumping system of the direct pressuretype, a pump with an inlet and a discharge outlet, a motor adapted toactuate said pump, a storage tank, an air inlet control having aconnection secured to said tank for passage of air to the tank when thepump ceases operation, a connection between the tank and pump comprisingan enclosed passage for flow of liquid therebetween, a cage secured insaid passage, a plate closing the passage at the tank end and having acentral opening therein, additional opening means in said plate, and aball disposed between the cage and plate, said ball normally resting onsaid cage to provide for flow of liquid from the tank through saidcentral opening and passage and rising to close the central opening whenthe pump is in operation under the force of liquid flowing through thepassage to said tank, the said additional opening means providingrestricted flow of liquid from the pump to the tank when the ball closesthe central opening to provide a time delay interval for liquid pressurebuildup in the tank for adequate flow of air thereto from the air inletcontrol when the pump ceases operation and thereby establish apredetermined water pressure in the tank to prevent intermittent rapidactuation of the pressure switch.

8. In a direct pressure pumping system, the combination comprising, apump having an inlet for liquid, a motor for actuating said pump, astorage tank connected through a passageway to said pump, an air inletcontrol connected to said tank for discharging air into said tank whenthe pump ceases operation; and a valve disposed in said passageway withsaid valve comprising, means responsive to liquid flow through saidpassageway toward said tank to restrict flow of liquid from said pumpinto said tank during operation of the pump to provide a time delaysufiicient to maintain an adequate air supply in the tank from saidcontrol and prevent sudden pressure buildup, said means beinginoperative when said pump is not operating to permit unrestricted flowof liquid from said tank through said passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS879,472 Keller Feb. 18, 1908 1,541,112 Buvinger June 9, 1925 1,938,956Fee Dec. 12, 1933 2,120,866 Paul June 14, 1938 2,183,421 Brady Dec. 12,1939 2,619,036 Mann Nov. 25, .1952 2,694,365 Armstrong et a1. Nov. 16,1954 2,708,881 Carpenter May 24, 1955 2,709,964 Brady June 7, 19552,761,389 Turner Sept. 4, 1956

